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The Christian-Social People's Party (German: Christlich-Soziale Volkspartei), often shortened to People's Party (German: Volkspartei, VP), was a social liberal political party in Liechtenstein.[1] Founded in 1918, the Christian-Social People's Party and the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) were the first political parties in Liechtenstein.[2]
Christian-Social People's Party Christlich-Soziale Volkspartei | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | VP |
| Founder | Wilhelm Beck |
| Founded | February 1918 |
| Dissolved | 1 January 1936 |
| Merged into | Patriotic Union |
| Newspaper | Liechtensteiner Nachrichten (Liechtenstein News) |
| Ideology | Social liberalism |
| Colours | Red |
Formation and putsch
Wilhelm Beck
Anton Walser
Martin Ritter
The party's roots originate behind the ideals of lawyer and politician Wilhelm Beck when he formed an opposition group around himself in 1914 with its newspaper Oberrheinische Nachrichten against the government of Leopold Freiherr von Imhof.[3][4] The party itself was established in February 1918 as an off-shoot of the trade union movement.[5] In the 1918 Liechtenstein general election, the first it contested, it won 5 out of 12 of the seats in the Landtag of Liechtenstein.[6]
The party conducted a de facto coup d'état against Imhof's government in November 1918, which forced his government to resign and replaced with a provisional executive committee led by VP member Martin Ritter, the first Liechtensteiner native head of government.[7][8][9]
Political history and ideology
The VP advocated for an expansion of democracy and progressive social policies, and was also supportive of the country's constitutional monarchy.[5] Due to its pro-democratic social liberal leanings and party colours, party members were often referred to disparagingly as "Reds".[1]
It first formed the country's first and only government following the 1922 elections under Gustav Schädler with Beck as President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein and remained in power until losing the 1928 elections.[9][10] The party lost significant credibility when his government was the subject of an embezzlement scandal involving the National Bank of Liechtenstein, primarily by party chairman Anton Walser in 1928. Johann II forced his government to resign in June 1928 as a result, and early elections were called.[11]
In 1935, the VP formed an alliance with the Liechtenstein Homeland Service (LHD), which was referred to as the 'National Opposition'. This alliance pushed through an initiative to introduce proportional representation within the country.[12] However, the subsequent 1935 Liechtenstein electoral system referendum was narrowly rejected by voters.[13] Motivated by a desire to unite the opposition prior to the 1936 Liechtenstein general election, the VP and LHD merged on 1 January 1936 to form the Patriotic Union.[4][12] In addition, the respective party newspapers merged to form the Liechtensteiner Vaterland.[14]
| Election | Leader | Performance | Rank | Government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | +/– | ||||
| 1918 | Wilhelm Beck | 5 / 15 |
New | 2nd | Opposition |
| 1922 | Gustav Schädler | 11 / 15 |
 6 |
1st |
Majority |
| 1926 (Jan) | 9 / 15 |
 2 |
 1st |
Majority | |
| 1926 (Apr) | 9 / 15 |
0 |
1st |
Majority | |
| 1928 | 4 / 15 |
5 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
| 1930 | Wilhelm Beck | 0 / 15 |
4 |
2nd |
Extra-parliamentary |
| 1932 | 2 / 15 |
2 |
2nd |
Opposition | |
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